Machine for drawing flax, wool, and other fibers for forming slivers or yarn



Lfi: 2, 1938. R v 2,111,926

MACHINE on DRAW FLA woo AND OTHER FIBERS FOR FORMING SLIVERS OR YARN Filed Sept. 21, 19:56 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTOR March 22, was. R. v. EVES 4 2,111,926

MACHINE FOR DRAWING FLAX, WOOL, AND OTHER FIBERS FOR FORMING SLIVERS OR YARN Filed Sept. 21, 1936 2 SheetsSheet 2 A I A 2 2 2 2 Fig.5? k

W 1 w V Mi t T W 6 U3 O t2 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 22, 1938 UNl'E srArE-s MACHINE FORDRAWING FLAX, WOOL, AND OTHER FIBERS FOE FORIVHNG SLIVERS OR YARN Reginald Valentine Eves,Belfast, Northern Ireland, assignor to J. & T. M.Greeves Limited, Belfast, Northern Ireland Application September 21,1936, Serial No. 101,817 :In Great Britain October 4, 1935 12 Claims.

The invention relates to the application of pressure to, and the controlling the position of, pressing rollers in machines for drawing flax,

wool, and other fibers for forming sliver or yarn,

of the type in which fiber is drafted between a positively driven main-rollen'and pressing rollers riding on the main roller, the pressing roller being constructed of two. bosses mounted on a short axle and weight being applied thereto by a swinging arm or gib pivoted adjacent to and resting upon the axle between the bosses of the pressing roller.

The objects of the invention are to control the working position of the pressing rollers or bosses more simply and accurately, to secure a rigid 1 locking of the swinging gib with the-axle bush thereby avoiding extended axle ends beyond the bosses, to enable pairs of pressing rollers tobe placed much more closely together and to enable the operative to change the rollers more easily than with any of the known types of spring or weight loaded rollers and swinging gibs.

The invention comprises a swinging gib so constructed and pivoted that it is free to-swing in one plane vertical to the axis of the pressing roller and to the axis of its pivot, to rotate or :rock about an axis'at right angles thereto and approximately coincident with its longitudinal axis and also will engage and lock itself rigidly 90 to the bearing bush of the axle of the pressing roller and maintain the line of contact between the rollers parallel with the longitudinal axis of the main roller, without the aid of other controlling members. J The invention further comprises an arbor for the bosses of thepressing roller comprising a short non-projecting axle provided with two ball bearings disposed relatively far apart, a non-" rotary grooved housing for the ball hearings to 40 receive the swinging gib, a pair of cupped orre- ,cessed'washers to carry each boss and nuts on the ends of the axles and furthera spring, compressed in a cartridge or container, a-spring wire with a rack or ratchet face and a pawl connected with the spring to apply through the swinging gib pressure to thepressing roller and means to compress the spring. v

The invention will be fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:--

Figs. ,1, 1a and 1b are side elevations of the swinging gib or arm in different positions.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of axle and pressing roller assembly. 7

Figs. 3 and 3a are details of the gib shown in Fig. 1. r

Figs. 4, 4a and 4b: are details of an alternative method of swinging the gib.

Figs. 5 and 5a show a general arrangement of gib, rollers, spring wire and pressure appliance. I

The machine is constructed with a positively driven main roller I and pressing rollers E each having two bosses 2 mounted on a single arbor riding on the main roller I and driven by surface contact, the bosses 2 being generally hard wood, the peripheries of which are trued up periodically as wear takes place. The bosses may however be covered with leather, cork, or other material, their diameter being practically constant. Pressure is applied to the pressing rollers by a swinging arm or gib A applied to the arbor 15 between the bosses -2.

The swinging gib A is constructed with a supporting or carrier-bracket a by which it is mounted. on a rod or pivot B to swing in a plane vertica to the axis of the pressing roller E the axis of the rod or pivot B being parallel with that of 20 the main roller I. The supporting carrier bracket (1. may also be formed with a lug a to which is pivoted an arm A to carry a top dead rubber A In the form shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 5 the sup- :porting or carrier bracket a is formed with two sockets or bearings a a and the end of the gib A with a pivot C at one end. The bearing (1 cmbraces the pivot or rod B and the bearing a receives the pivot C of the gib A both being held in their respective position by collars b a The gib A is free to swing in a plane about the longitudinal axis of the pivot B and to rotate or swing slightly about the axis of the pivot C.

In the form shown in Figs. 4, 4a, 4b the sup: porting or carrier bracket a is formed integral with the end of the'gib A to swing or pivot on the rod B and with a knife edge 0 working in -a "V groove in a collar 0 freeto revolve on, but. cannot move sidewise on the pivot rod B. The guides LL on the rod B are slotted instead of 7 being close fitting holes to allow the arm A to rock slightly about the knife edge.

The gib A is thus free to swing in a plane 45 about the longitudinal axis of the pivot B and to rotate orswing slightly about the transverse axis of the pivot B.

Either of these forms permits the tilting of the axle of the pressing roller E to accommodate any Want of truth or irregularity of the faces of the bosses 2 of the pressing roller E, or any variation of thickness of sliver, to prevent undue strain or breakage in the event of a lap forming, and to allow the pressings perfect accommodation to follow the deflection of the roller E under its load.

The swinging gib A is constructed with two wedge shaped projections H which engage with and lock firmly into a circular groove 9 of angular cross section in the housing G of the arbor of the pressing roller E (see Fig. 2). The arbor of the pressing roller E is thereby held rigidly in one plane in relation to the main roller I and while it holds the ball bearing housing G of the axle firmly, yet it can be quickly and easily released.

The construction of the gib A and its pivots or supports B and C is such that no movement of the pair of bosses 2 of the pressing rollers E is possible in a direction parallel with the axis of the main roller l of the machine, but gives perfect freedom of motion where needed by allowing the axle of the bosses to be tilted.

Referring to Fig. 2 the axle D on which the two bosses 2 of the pressing rollers E are secured is screw threaded at each end and provided with two ball bearings M placed as far apart as possible to secure accurate alignment of the axle. The aperture through the centre of the bosses 2 is sufficiently large that the ball bearings M and their housing G may be disposed inside them, cupped or recessed washers R are fitted into the central apertures of the bosses 2 and nuts S are applied to the screwed ends of the axle D. By tightening up these nuts everything is held in place and the bosses 2 securely held to rotate with the axle D which is free to rotate within the housing G. By this construction any projection of the ends of the axle D beyond the bosses 2 is avoided and enables the space a: (see Fig. 5a) between pairs of rollers E to be reduced as much as desired. The housing G so arranged provides a lap guard to prevent fibers lapping around the axle D.

The advantage of this type of ball bearing arbor for pressing rollers is that both bosses 2 are fast on the axle and turn together with it, one boss helping the other to revolve. Many rollers are used with a non-rotating axle with ball bearings in the body of each boss, but such rollers have the disadvantage that if the sliver under one boss is momentarily hard to draw, it gets no help in turning from its fellow boss, on the axle.

Referring to Figs. 5 and 5a pressure is applied to the axle of the pressing roller E through a spring wire K suspended from the gib or arm A by a charged spring M compressed in a container. The spring M has a long stroke and is compressed to working load between two plates W, W by bolts or rods V.

A plate M takes the reaction of the spring N and to it is affixed a sleeve Y to the head of which a pawl K is pivoted. The spring wire K at its lower face is formed with a rack or ratchet teeth It with which the pawl K engages to apply pressure to the spring wire and gib A. When the pressure has to be released from the rollers the casing or container of the spring M will prevent it extending.

The lower plate W is formed with an extension member 10 formed with a hook to be engaged by a crank pin N on a lever T pivoted at u which having a short stroke is employed to pull down one element of the casing, thus putting the full working pressure of the spring M on the bosses 2 of the pressing roller E with small expenditure of energy. To apply the pressure the handle T pivoted at u is depressed to a position just beyond the dead centre line. The pin N which is fixed to the handle T compresses the spring M through the medium of the rods V and the plates W W The pawl K transmits the load of the spring M through the spring wire K to the wood rollers E.

A plate Z placed between the plates M and W acts as an indicator showing whether the spring pressure is on or oif. When the pressure is 01f, plate Z is held tightly between the plates W and M but becomes loose when the pressure is on. The pawl K is so weighted that it prevents the spring wire K from dropping when it is taken oif the end of the gib A for the removal of a roller. If the replaced roller has bosses of smaller diameter the spring wire K can be easily pushed down to the next ratchet tooth k. The handle T is detachable, fitting into a socket t and formed with a groove 25 to engage a quadrant guide t to prevent it being removed until the pin N is over the dead centre and when the full pressure is on the roller E the handle will fall out of its socket if not taken away.

What I claim as my invention and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. In a machine for drawing flax, wool and other fibers of the type referred to the combination with the main roller and the pressing roller of a pivot rod parallel with the main roller upon which to mount a swinging gib, a swinging gib, pivotal means applied to the pivot rod Whereby the gib may swing in a plane vertical to the longitudinal axis of the main roller, pivotal means at the rear end of the gib whereby it may also rock about its longitudinal axis and means at I the forward end of the gib by which it can lock itself with a bearing bush in the pressing roller to maintain the line of contact between the rollers parallel with the longitudinal axis of the main roller.

2. In a machine for drawing flax, wool and other fibers of the type referred to the combination with the main roller and the pressing roller of a pivot rod parallel with the main roller upon which to mount a swinging gib, a. swinging gib, pivotal means applied to the pivot rod whereby the gib may swing in a vertical plane, pivotal means at the rear end of the gib whereby it may also rock approximately about its longitudinal axis, and means at its forward end by which the swinging gib can lock itself with a bearing bush in the pressing roller to maintain the line of contact between the rollers parallel with the longitudinal axis of the main roller.

3. In a machine for drawing flax, wool and other fibers of the type referred to the combination with a positively driven main roller, a pressing roller riding on the main roller and a swinging gib for applying pressure to and controlling the position of the pressing roller, of a pivot rod mounted parallel with the main roller, a swinging bracket mounted on the pivot rod formed with a socket, a journal on the rear end of the swinging gib fitted into the socket of the swinging bracket within which it is free to rock about its longitudinal axis.

4. In a machine in which fiber is drafted between a positively driven main roller and a pressing roller riding on the said main roller, the combination of a swinging gib for applying pressure to the pressing roller, a swinging bracket fitted to the rear end of the swinging gib, a pivot rod on which the swinging bracket is mounted and pivotal means by which the swinging gib is connected to the said bracket to rock approximately about its longitudinal axis.

5. A swinging gib for applying pressure to the pressing roller of a machine for drafting flax; wool and other fibers comprising in its construction an arm, a pivotal journal at its rear end, and a swinging carrier bracket formed with two sockets at right angles to one another, one socket to receive and hold the pivotal end of the arm to permit the gib to rock about its longitudinal axis and a pivot rod upon which the other socket is mounted to permit the gib to swing in a vertical plane and to rock slightly about an axis at'right angles thereto.

6. A swinging gib for applying pressure to the pressing roller of a machine for drawing flax, wool and other fibers comprising an arm, a pivotal journal formed at the rear end of the said arm, a supporting carrier bracket formed with two bearing sockets at right angles to one another one to embrace a pivot rod parallel to the axis of the rollers and the other to receive the pivot on the end of the gib arm whereby the gib is free to swing in a plane vertical'to the axis of the pressing roller and to rock slightly about an axis approximately coincident with its longitudinal axis.

'7. A swinging gib comprising an arm with a pivotal journal at its rear end, a swinging carrier bracket with two sockets at right angles to one another into one of which the pivotal journal of the arm is fitted and a pivot rod on which the other socket is mounted and locking projections at the forward end of the arm to engage the bearing bush of a top pressing roller.

8. A swinging gib as in claim 1 comprising in its construction an arm, a supporting carrier bracket formed integral therewith at its rear end with a knife edge upon which it may rock in combination with a pivot rod, and a collar with V groove on the pivot rod in which the knife edge of the bracket engages, whereby the gib is free, to swing in a plane vertical to the axis of the main roller and to rock slightly at right angles thereto approximately about its longitudinal axis.

9. In a:machine as in claim 1 a pressing roller having two bosses and an arbor comprising a short non-projecting axle, two ball bearings thereon disposed relatively far apart, a non-rotary grooved housing for the ball bearings, a pair of cupped recessed washers mounted on the arbor to carry each boss, and nuts on the ends of the axle to secure the cupped washers and the inside races of the ball bearings fast to the axle.

10. A swinging gib as in claim 1 constructed with two wedge shaped projections on its forward end to engage and lock firmly into a bearing bush of the arbor of the pressing roller.

11. In a machine as in claim 1 the combination with the swinging gib of means to apply pressure thereto comprising a spring wire depending therefrom provided with ratchet teeth, a spring compressed within a container, a pawl carried by the spring container to engage the teeth of the spring wire, and means to draw down the spring and apply the pressure of the spring to the spring wire.

12. In a machine as in claim 1 the combination with the swinging gib of means to apply pressure thereto comprising a spring wire suspended therefrom with ratchet teeth, a spring, plates between which the spring'is compressed, a pawl carried thereby to engage the teeth of the spring wire, a handle and pin to engage a projection on the lower spring plate to draw down the spring and apply the pressure of the spring to the spring wire.

REGINALD VALENTINE EVES. 

